Since the eighteenth century it has been taken for granted by political thinkers that, in a true democracy governed by the rule of law, the government must be separate from the body that makes laws, which must in turn be separate from the judges who enforce the law.
Only if these three functions are kept completely independent each from the other can the state be sure that there are proper checks and balances on the powers of the government and on the activities of the legislature and that all three bodies are as free from corruption as any human institution can be.
In England, of course, there is no constitutional separation of powers. The UK is governed by the party that commands a majority in the legislative assembly, so in theory it can introduce whatever laws it likes; the UK government is restrained not by the vigilance of the legislature but by its desire to be re-elected at the end of its term.
Frankly, when a highly respected Republican chooses to endorse a Democratic presidential candidate just a few days before a presidential election, one has to wonder, what went wrong? The question here is for the Republicans, because whether or not the Democrats thought Powell’s decision was forthcoming they now hold a major trump card they do not need to question.
What does this mean for Sen. Obama? Moreover, what does it mean for Sen. McCain? Get aboard my “straight-talk” express, because the writing is on the wall and not even a prognostic, political pundit can alter it. The war veteran and his “GOP strategy”, Gov. Sarah Palin-who, ironically was featured on the September 15, 2008 cover of Newsweek with a rifle slung across her shoulder-need to hang up their guns. The battle is over! Frankly, it won’t surprise me one bit if President Bush decides to endorse Sen. Obama, since many Republicans have become very disappointed in McCain, primarily in his choice for running mate.
Some members of the judiciary were strongly opposed to the introduction of the Supreme Court. This may have been because they felt it an unnecessary extravagance or some have argued that it was foisted on them by Tony Blair, without consultation or discussion with any of the judges.
The Conservatives have not been keen to back it either, complaining about the new court’s set-up cost of £100 million and increased running costs of some £10 million per year more than the cost of the old House of Lords.
Already heard loud and clear are the voices of the Democratic holy trinity of Obama, Reid and Pelosi referring to the Senate passage of the bill as history in the making. Getting out ahead of themselves again and failing to note that the terror of 9/11, hurricane Katrina and the recent attack on servicemen at Ft. Hood are also history. If the bill remains in check the costs passed on to America will also make history and the only holy thing about that will be the holes in the socks of those who can’t afford to pay for it.
This is a victory of the Democratic House and Senate that will indeed make history but it will be filed in our national annuls as a victory without honor.
It is well known that Abraham Lincoln was at times referred to as the prophet President, but perhaps we should include patriot John Adams in the list of founders with powers of divination. Could Adams have been looking into the future all the way up to the Christmas of 2009 when he said “In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm, and three or more is a congress.”
The skullduggery, the back room deals and all of the elements that were engaged to ram this bill down the throats of an unwilling citizenry have drawn remarks from statesmen and ordinary citizens across the nation. Words like bribery, tyranny, foul and worse have popped up repeatedly in those reactions.
Now let one old preacher be forgiven for what might be construed as excessive iteration by using yet one more negative term to define the behavior of the House and Senate. I will borrow both the term and its use in its own context from a Bible verse I have quoted all too much of late. The word is “wicked.” The context in which it is found is as follows.
Author Verónica Carrillo Vico
Encontrar un Trabajo Empleo es fácil si sabe dónde buscar
